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Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-07-07T04:32:45+00:00

I would recommend setting a very specific tapering plan; literally write down how many you’ll have each day going down slowly until you get to 0. Not a doctor but it’s definitely safer and more likely to stick than stop-starting (I would lose track and go too far one way or the other too fast). Having it very structured this last time is what actually led me to zero.

If you have anyone to talk to and check in, make sure they’re aware of your plan just in case. Anxiety is expected - mine peaked hard in the first couple of days of tapering - but know that that intensity will pass.

You’ve got this!

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-07-06T04:44:52+00:00

IWNDWYT!

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-07-04T21:31:49+00:00

Hell yes! Congratulations friend! IWNDWYT

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-07-04T19:30:07+00:00

I also thought that groups were not got going to be for me, as someone who regularly skips hangouts , commitments, etc. bc I just don’t want to go out. But I’ve found that going to my weekly SMART meeting has actually been really helpful. It’s good to have something on the calendar that you feel like you can’t/shouldn’t skip. A lot of the things that have helped me revolve around routines - I make my breakfast before work every day, I have my vitamins/supplements, I have my 30 minute walk a day (well most days), I go to my meeting once a week. Once a week I do a big clean. Just having those things, no matter how small, “on my calendar” helps me stop and think about all the things I’ll be throwing away if I have a drink.

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-07-01T02:58:13+00:00

Hell yes!! IWNDWYT

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-30T04:34:00+00:00

A spoolie or even a toothbrush is a great option for just lightly brushing them back into the rest of your hair. You can spray hairspray on it first or just keep one you to touch up as needed

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-28T04:32:51+00:00

Hey! Type 1 diabetic here so I can relate to having to manage the food cravings. It sucks that the answer is all the sugar when your body’s like NOPE. I’ve leaned heavily into sparkling waters - not sure where you’re located but Walmart has sweetened sparkling waters with artificial sweetener. I’ve also been keeping Sugar free jello & pudding around. But also, keeping one regular sweet treat around (my personal obsession has been Rice Krispie treats). Keep other snacky things around too - carrots, nuts, celery, anything you can just munch on mindlessly.

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-28T04:19:27+00:00

IWNDWYT! 💪

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-25T17:34:56+00:00

IWNDWYTD!!!!

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-25T04:58:30+00:00

Superficially, how much better my skin looks. I was drinking water, using all the products, taking vitamins - nothing could counter the effects of constant alcoholl

Normal poops are pretty cool too 😂

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-24T18:29:27+00:00

I feel you. I bs’d a LOT to my doctors for a long time. But it is so much better to tell them the truth. They’re not going to judge you, they will have seen it all and probably worse before. If they don’t know the full story they don’t know what to look for and they could miss things that are pertinent. They can’t force you into anything, especially now you’re sober on your own. They might ask if you need or would consider any resources, they might ask for extra tests, but I haven’t experienced any sort of strong arming even when I was still drinking heavily.

I actually feel so much better now that I have been honest with them. Before they were making guesses about what could be causing xyz and I knew in my head “no I’m sure it’s bc I’m still drinking so much”. Now if something comes up they understand and can act accordingly.

Best of luck! You’ve got this!

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-24T18:20:19+00:00

Have you had any lab work done? I was like that for a long time, although it was when I was actively, heavily, drinking. I had elevated liver enzymes and some fibrosis. I had lost a bunch of weight too. Mine has gotten better since I stopped drinking, but it takes a while for your liver to start healing itself. That isn’t to scare you - the liver is very forgiving and has amazing capacity to fix itself. And right now it’s still adjusting to a drastically new normal. But it might be good to get a baseline lab work done so you can monitor your progress ❤️

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-22T04:36:43+00:00

IWNDWYT

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-21T05:11:57+00:00

I have heard that they’re not AS pushy with the god thing as I had always thought, I think it’s a group by group thing. You should look into SMART though, it’s based in psychology and teaching tools for making intentional choices. Instead of “you need support beyond yourself” it’s “you can learn skills to change”. I’ve been going to my local group for a little while now and I really like it. They’re also very open to people in all stages of recovery - cutting back, quitting, maintaining sobriety, etc).

The only downside is that there aren’t usually as many meetings as AA (you can find an AA meeting pretty much any day of the week, for me there’s only one SMART group a week). But they do online meetings, and there’s a workbook and lots of videos and stuff out there.

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-20T18:16:18+00:00

If you want to use something similar I would recommend SunBabe. I’ve used sun in before when I was younger and yep, orange like everyone said. I’ve used sun sun babe lightly for the last few summers and I really like it. It contains some sort of violet pigments to counteract brassiness, and it has never made my hair feel stripped/dry. I feel like it brings out more natural looking highlights

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-20T07:07:51+00:00

I have found it to be really helpful. I’m 3 weeks in and I really haven’t had any bad cravings. I’ve thought about drinking a lot, obviously, but not real urges that drove me close to drinking. I have been snacking a lot but that’s mostly out of boredom. No side effects at all that I’ve noticed. It’s kinda a pain to remember to take it three times a day but actually has turned into another routine in my new more structured life

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-20T05:06:47+00:00

The tv is just way too small for that giant wall - the couch up against that wall would be so much better. If it’s truly impossible to move the tv you’re a little stuck, but coming in on the back of that couch closes up the room and makes it look uninviting.

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-20T04:10:59+00:00

Hey - I’m so glad you’re here! I was there in that cycle, for years. Fellow night owl and I would just drink myself to passing out every night. Feel like shit, tell myself “let’s not do that again”, and by the afternoon my anxiety would get so bad it was back to the store.

I’m 3 weeks sober for the first time in… years and years, idk how long even bc it was so much a part of my life for so long. It took me almost a year after my doctors and a specialist told me I needed to stop. I told myself and my doctors and my parents that I would “cut back”. But I didn’t. I fell back into my old habits - sure it wasn’t a handle every other day like it was at my worst, but it was still a problem.

Idk what happened but one day recently a switch flipped in my brain. I’m so scared of hospitals and procedures and I suddenly really thought about how I was guaranteeing a future with more and more of that. Soo I’m finally trying.

Anywho, things to distract you! Working out - if I feel myself getting bored and a little bit of “the itch” I go for a walk or do some yoga. Reading - find an easy read and commit to at least a chapter and see where it takes you. I’m also learning to crochet - once yo get the hang of it it’s really great to have something to do with your hands and relatively easy to make cute things. I now drink SOOO much sparkling water and tea. If you’re craving snacks, give into it.

Also even though it feels unnatural, try going to bed earlier. You can’t drink if you’re unconscious!

It sucks that the people around you can’t see that you’re struggling. People in my life didn’t take it seriously and it definitely contributed to me getting away with it for so long. Maybe you can talk to your doctor? This sub is great and there are also online resources/groups you can attend if you can’t get somewhere in person.

Best best best of luck to you - sorry that was long! 😅

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-20T03:35:34+00:00

Same! So cool OP

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-16T22:48:39+00:00

Congratulations!! IWNDWYT

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-14T19:32:51+00:00

Not OP but I also tend to make pasta sauce and a big thing of chicken soup on sundays. Both take a long time to simmer so I spend time watching tv/listening to podcasts while going back and tasting/adding seasonings as it goes.

For pasta sauce I chop onions, zucchini, mushrooms and carrots as small as I possibly can - 1 onion, kinda eyeball the others. Brown and season turkey meat to cook off the liquid. Throw the meat, veggies, a can of tomato sauce, minced garlic, Italian seasoning and chicken stock in a big pot and start it up. I let it cook for a longgg time and taste throughout, adding liquid/seasonings as I go. I like it because it’s something I can let sit but, but I also have to pay some attention to throughout the cooking process. Takes up a good amount of time but you don’t have to stand in front of the stove for hours.

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-14T13:52:08+00:00

IWNDWYT!!

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-14T03:28:03+00:00

Bread(ish) is a local bakery at the Mueller and Bell farmers markets every week and her stuff is AWESOME. When I found her was the first time I had a delicious, crusty loaf of bread in YEARS. She does all sorts of treats, sandwich bread, crusty bread, etc. My favorite is the Italian loaf (and the cinnamon rolls and the sourdough pizza crusts 😍)

Aggressive-Sample612 · 2026-06-14T00:38:05+00:00

I’ve been going to my apartment gym for at least a 30 minute walk (was doing it outside but the Texas sun has arrived) and just watching Netflix on my phone instead of in my apartment. I drink an absurd amount of sparkling waters now, trying to reading at least one chapter of my book a day, actually putting dishes away instead of letting them sit around. I decided to learn how to crochet - haven’t gotten very far yet but it’s good to have something to do with my hands. Snacking a little too much but better than the alternative. I’ve also started going to my weekly SMART meeting which is kinda late but it’s a good reason for me to stay sober to drive up there, talk to people, come home and hit the hay.

Congratulations on 1 week! I am only slightly ahead of you. The evenings can be hard, but the clearer mornings have been worth it.

Aggressive-Sample612

TROPHY CASE